God established His covenant with Abraham and his seed. As a token of God’s covenant with Abraham, God commanded Abraham to circumcise every male child on the eighth day. The circumcision in the flesh on the eighth day was not only a token of the covenant between God and Abraham but also a foreshadow of the circumcision in Christ. When Christ died on the sixth day and rose from the dead on the eighth day, a New Covenant came into existence that replaced the Old Covenant. Let’s look at how the eighth day became the day of the New Covenant.
What does the Bible say about the covenant between God and Abraham?
God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs (Falimaha Rasuullada 7:8)
I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. oo waan ku siin doonaa, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.And God said unto Abraham, thou shalt keep My covenant therefore, adiga, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
Kanu waa axdigayga, oo waa inaad dhawrtaan, aniga iyo adiga iyo farcankaaga kaa dambeeyaba; Mid kasta oo idinka mid ah waa in la gudaa. Oo waa inaad buuryadiisa gudataan; oo waxay calaamad u noqon doontaa axdiga aniga iyo idinka ina dhex yaal.
Oo kii siddeed maalmood jira waa in idinku dhex gudaa, wiil waluba abtigiinna, kii guriga ku dhashay, ama lagu iibsado lacag shisheeyaha, oo aan ahayn farcankaaga. Kan gurigaaga ku dhashay, iyo kii lacagtaada lagu soo iibsado, waa in la gudo: oo axdigayguna jidhkiinna ayuu u ahaan doonaa axdi weligiis waara. Iyo wiilka buuryoqabka ah oo aan hilibkiisa buuryadiisa la gudin, qofkaas waa in dadkiisa laga gooyaa; Axdigaygii wuu jebiyey (Bilowgii 17:7-14)
The circumcision in the flesh on the eighth day was a token of the covenant
All the males, who were with Abraham, had to be circumcised, including Ishmael. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, God specifically said, that He would establish His covenant with Isaac and not with Ishmael.
Although Isaac wasn’t born yet, God promised this child to Abraham. God kept His promise and fulfilled His words, despite the fact that Abraham and Sara had doubts about God’s promise.
God kept His promise and fulfilled His words, as God always does.
When Sara became pregnant and Isaac was born, Isaac was circumcised on the eighth day. Iyo dhammaan kuwa, who were born of the seed of Isaac were circumcised on the eighth day. It didn’t matter what day the eighth day was. Whether it was on a Sabbath day or a feast day, every male child was circumcised on the eighth day.
An everlasting covenant
God said to Abraham, that His covenant would be an everlasting covenant between God and Abraham and his Seed. The Seed refers to Jesus Christ (Galatiya 3:16).
God mentioned the Seed, sababtoo ah, in the Book of Genesis, God prophesied, that the Seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. (Sidoo kale akhri: The head of the serpent bruised, maxaa yeelay ciribta Ciise waa la burburiyey).
Walaac ah, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Ballamada waxaa loo qaaday Ibraahim iyo farcankiisii. Isagu ma odhan, Iyo iniinaha, sida badan; laakiin sida mid ka mid ah, Iyo farcankaaga, kaas oo ah Masiixa. Oo tan waxaan leeyahay, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, Sharciga, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Haddaba sidaas daraaddeed sharciga u adeega? Waxaa loogu daray xad-gudubyo aawadood, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; oo waxaa lagu amray malaa'igaha oo gacanta dhexdhexaadiye ku jira. Hadda dhexdhexaadiye maaha mid dhexdhexaadiye ah, laakiin Ilaah waa mid.
“Is the law against the promises of God?”
Is the law then against the promises of God? Eebbe ha iloobo: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Laakiin intaanu iimaanku iman, Waxaa nalooga ilaaliyay sharciga, Xadhiga u caqiidada taas oo ka dib la shaaciyo. Sidaas daraaddeed sharcigu wuxuu ahaa maamulahaas dugsiga inuu na keeno Masiix, Si aan xaq ugu noqonno rumaysad. Laakiin markii ay iimaankaas ka dib timid, Kuma jirno maamulka dugsiga.
Waayo, kulligiin waxaad ku tihiin xagga binu-aadmiga Ilaah rumaysad xagga Ciise Masiix. In alla intii idinka mid ah oo laydiin baabtiisay Masiix. Ma jiro Yuhuudi iyo Gariig midna, Ma jiro dammaanad mana jiro bilaash, Ma jiro lab ama dhadig midna: Waayo, kulligiin waxaad tihiin Ciise Masiix ku jira. Oo haddaad tihiin Masiixa, Haddaba idinku waxaad tihiin farcankii Ibraahim, iyo kuwa dhaxalka leh sida ballanku yahay (Galatiya 3:15-29).
God’s promise of a New and better Covenant
In Yeremyaah 31, God promised a New Covenant, which would be a better covenant than the Old Covenant.
Bal eeg, Maalmuhu way yimaadaan, Rabbigu wuxuu leeyahay, inaan axdi cusub la dhigan doono reer binu Israa'iil cusub, Oo reer Yahuudahna waxay la jiraan reer Yahuudah: Ma aha sida axdigii aan la dhigtay awowayaashood maalinta aan iyaga gacanta ku qabtay si aan uga keeno dalkii Masar; which my covenant they brake, In kasta oo aan nin ahay, Rabbigu wuxuu leeyahay:
Laakiinse waxa kanu yahay axdiga aan la dhigan doono reer binu Israa'iil; Maalmahaas ka dib, Rabbigu wuxuu leeyahay, Sharcigayga waxaan gelin doonaa uurkooda, oo ku qor qalbiyadooda; oo waxay noqon doonaan Ilaahooda, and they shall be My people.
Oo iyagu innaba waxba ma baran doonaan deriskiisa, oo nin waluba walaalkiis, isagoo leh, Ogow Sayidka: waayo, kulligood way i wada garan doonaan, ugu yar ee iyaga ugu weyn iyaga, Rabbigu wuxuu leeyahay: waayo, xumaantooda waan cafiyi doonaa, Oo anigu dembigooda waan xusuusan doonaa innaba (Yeremyaah 31:31-34)
God promised He would establish a New Covenant, not only with the house of Israel, but also with the house of Judah.
This covenant would be different than the covenant, which God made with their fathers on the day that God took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
God promised a New Covenant; the Covenant in Jesus Christ and the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Born again in the spirit
This New Covenant would make it possible for humanity to become born again in the spirit. Sidee? Iimaanka iyo dib-u-cusboonaysiinta Ciise Masiix (through the baptism in water, dhimashada jidhka iyo sarakicidda ruuxa kuwii dhintay, iyo baabtiiskii Ruuxa Quduuska ah) and become sons of God (lab iyo dheddigga labadaba).
The token of the Old Covenant, between God and the seed of Abraham and Isaac, took place on the eighth day.
The New Covenant on the eighth day
Maalintii siddeedaad, the resurrection of Jesus Christ took place. The redemptive work was accomplished. The Old Covenant passed away. As a token, Daawafka macbudka ayaa laga soo kireystay labadii ugu sac ilaa hoose, when Jesus Christ died as Man on the cross.
The New Covenant was established on the eighth day and replaced the Old Covenant.
Isn’t that something! The circumcision on the eighth day was a token of the Old Covenant, and that the New Covenant was established on the eighth day, when Jesus rose from the dead?
Waayo, qurbaan keliya ayuu kaamil kaga dhigay weligood kuwa quduus laga dhigay. Taas oo Ruuxa Quduuska ahu markhaati inoogu yahay: waayo, dabadeed wuxuu hore u yidhi, Kanu waa axdiga aan iyaga la dhigan doono maalmahaas dabadeed, Rabbigu wuxuu leeyahay, Qaynuunnadayda waxaan gelin doonaa qalbigooda, oo maankooda ayaan ku qori doonaa; Oo dembiyadooda iyo xumaatooyinkoodana dib uma soo xusuusan doono. Hadda aaway cafiska kuwaas, Wax dambe oo dembi loo bixiyaa ma jiro. Lahaanshaha sidaa darteed, walaac ah, dhiirranaanta in lagu galo kan ugu quduusan dhiigga Ciise, Hab cusub oo nool, Oo uu isagu innaga quduus ka dhigay, marada xijaabka, yacni, Hilibkiisa; oo isagoo wadaad sare u ah guriga Ilaah; Aan ugu soo dhowaanno qalbi run ah annagoo hubaal rumaysad ah, Inaga oo qalbigeenna laga rusheeyey niyo shar leh, jidhkeenana lagu maydhay biyo saafi ah
Cibraaniyada 10:14-22
Is there only one way, to be saved?
The New Covenant was not only meant for the people of Israel, laakiin sidoo kale dadka aan Yuhuudda ahayn. Jesus made a way for the world to be reconciled with God through faith and regeneration in Him, (ku. John 3:16).
Only through Christ, by faith and regeneration in Him aka the circumcision in Him, you can be saved and reconciled with God. Ma jiro wado kale!
God only wanted one thing and that was to be a God for His people. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, God was rejected by His carnal people Israel. His people Israel had broken His covenant. Therefore a New Covenant had to come.
The New Covenant is a better covenant
This New Covenant would be so much better than the Old Covenant. In this new Covenant, God would deal with sin and death that reign as king in the flesh of fallen man (Odaygii). Sidee? Through one sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.
But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, Wuxuu yidhi, Bal eeg, Maalmuhu way yimaadaan, Rabbigu wuxuu leeyahay, when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: ma aha axdigii aan awowayaashood la dhigtay oo kale waagii aan iyaga gacanta qabtay oo aan ka soo bixiyey dalka Masar.; maxaa yeelay, axdigayga kuma ay sii socon, oo anigu kama aan fiirsan, Rabbigu wuxuu leeyahay.
Maxaa yeelay, taasu waa axdigii aan la dhigan doono reer binu Israa'iil maalmahaas dabadood, Rabbigu wuxuu leeyahay; Xeerkayga waxaan gelin doonaa maskaxdooda, oo ku qor qalbiyadooda: oo waxaan iyaga u noqon doonaa iyaga Ilaah, Oo iyana waxay ii noqon doonaan dad: Oo iyagu nin waluba deriskiisa wax bari maayo, oo nin waluba walaalkiis, isagoo leh, Ogow Sayidka: Waayo, dhammaantood way i garan doonaan, from the least to the greates For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, Iyo dembiyadooda iyo xumaatooyinkooda waan xasuusan doonaa mar dambe.
Taas oo uu yidhi, Axdi Cusub, Kii hore duug buu ka dhigay. Hadda wixii qudhunya oo gaboobaya waxay diyaar u yihiin inay meesha ka baxaan (Cibraaniyada 8:6-13)
God dealt with the sinful nature of fallen man
Axdiga cusub, God would deal with the sinful nature of fallen man through the death of the flesh. (Sidoo kale akhri: Farqiga u dhexeeya allabarigii xoolaha iyo allabarigii Ciise Masiix)
By the blood of Jesus Christ and regeneration in Him, God wouldn’t remember the sins and the former life as a sinner anymore.
Odaygii (Nin dhacay) with all his sins and iniquities, who lives under sin and therefore is a sinner, doesn’t live anymore but has died in Christ. (Sidoo kale akhri: Ciise wuxuu soo celiyay booskii ninkii dhacay iyo Nabad-sharaf, Ciise ayaa dib u soo celiyay ninka dhexda iyo Ilaahay)
God created a new species, a new generation, Nin cusub; wiilashii Ilaaha (lab iyo dheddigga labadaba).
The new man is born of God through regeneration in Christ. Iyada oo loo marayo kudhaqan Ruuxa Quduuska ah, God put His law in the hearts of the new man.
Qof walba, who believes in Jesus Christ and accepts Him as Savior and Lord, shall be saved from eternal death and receive eternal life.
the circumcision in Christ is a token
Oo lagu guday gudniinka gudniinta oo aan gacmo lahayn, jidhka dembiga jidhkana gudniintii Masiixa.: Waxaa isaga lagu aasay baabtiiska, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, Oo isaga ka sara kiciyey kuwii dhintay (Kolosay 2:11-12)
The New Covenant was meant for the old man; Ninka jidhka, who was born of Abraham, Isxaaq, iyo Yacquub; Israel and through natural birth belonged to Israel, and as a token was the circumcision in the flesh on the eighth day. But due to the fact, that the covenant was broken by God’s people, there had to come a New Covenant, a better covenant.
The New Covenant came whereof Jesus Christ is the High Priest and Mediator and is sealed with His blood. Everyone can have access by faith and regeneration in Christ.
Axdiga cusub, there is no circumcision in the flesh. That’s because the New Covenant is not for the old carnal man. The token of the New Covenant is the circumcision in Christ.
You become circumcised in Christ by putting away, jidhka dembiyada, and laying down and burry your flesh. You bury your flesh through the baabtiiska biyaha.
What is the significance of baptism?
In the water baptism you lay down your old life. Ka sarakicidda ruuxa kuwii dhintay, you will be raised in newness of life. From that moment you have become a new creation.
You are reconciled to God and your fallen state is restored. You’ll live in the New Covenant, which was first meant for God’s carnal people Israel, and then for the Gentiles.
From the moment you entered the covenant with God and became a new creation, you’ll no longer walk after the flesh in the kingdom of darkness and live under the authority of the devil and the spirits of this world in the power of sin and death.
You shall live in Christ in the Kingdom of God and represent, preach and bring the Kingdom of God, halkaas oo Ciise Masiix boqor u yahay oo boqornimadiisa, dhulka.
‘Noqo cusbada dhulka’
